Gas-washing apparatus



June 24, 1930. E. VON MAL-mz y 1,767,628

GAS WASHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. '7, 1927 4 sheets-sneu 1 June 24, 1930.E, VN MALTlTz 1,767,628

GAS WASHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24, 1930.4 y E, VON MALTITZ l 1,767,628

GAS WASHING APPARATUS vFiled. Feb. '7, 1927' 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 (y *Q93 An/crater l -June 24, 1930. E. voN MALTlTz 1,767,628 GAS WASHINGAPPARATUS I Filed Feb. 7, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WM-@Www Patented-'June24, 1930- STT@ . iat-aaa aramcsi-uc EDIVIUND VON MALTITZ, OF GARY,INDIANA, ASSIGNORIEO H. A. BRASSERT & COMPANY,

F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS GAS-WASHIN G APPARATUSApplication mea February 7,1927. serial 1ro. 166,348.

This invention relates to a novel and improved apparatus formechanically washing gas and consists of the matters hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out 5 in the appended claims.' y

1 Two generally well known methods are now employed 'for mechanicallywashing and cooling gas. In one, known as the disintel grator method,thev gas is washed by passing it with the washing fluid, generallywater, 'through and between relatively, oppositely revolving grids orpaddles by means of which the gas and washing fluid are beaten together,'the washing fluid being atomized into a line spray or mist which isthoroughly beaten into and intermixed with the gas. This treatmentlthoroughly wets and drenches even the finest r particles of dustcontent, which then will settle out by gravity, leaving the gas clear ofsuch solid matter when it leaves the apparatus. is introduced at thebottom of avertical-casing and the washing fluid is introduced at thetop of the same. 'I he washing fluid is discharged upon rotary trays orother carrying members mounted on a vertical shaft centrally disposedwithin the casing and rotated at such a speed as to discharge the waterunder the action of centrifugal force towards the periphery of thecasing. The gas is forced through the sheets of water thus thrown oft'the trays and the dust particles carried by the gas are thoroughlywetted and drenched and by reason of their increase in weight when wetare thrown out and separated from Vthe gas stream. 4

' The second mentioned method has the advantage that the washing actionis performed in superimposed steps" or stages, with the gas going in onedirection and the water in the opposite direction. The cold, clean waterentering at the top of the casing acts upon the gas which has beencooled and has been partially cleaned inits upward passage through thelower part of the casing. The first meny tioned, disntegrator method onthe other hand, has'the advantage that the washing process may becarried on in apparatus occupying a comparatively smaller space with aIn the other washing method the gas .I Specification' comparativelysmaller quantity of water and in less time.:

'Ihe object of the present invent-ion is to produce an apparatus formechanically washing gas in which are combined both the advantages o'fthe method employed in the horizontal, disintegrator gas washing devicesand ofthe method employed in the vertical, centrifugal gas washingdevices, without the disadvantages of either, "so that the gas will bewashed and cooled4 (in the case of hot gas) with less water per unit ofgas than is required in the commonly used types of hori-` Zontaldisintegrator andv with less vertical height of apparatus for the' sameer;t`orrnance than in the case o'f the well known vertical washersoperating on the centrifugal principle.

The many-advantages of the invention will appear more clearly as Iproceed with my In the drawings Figure 1 is a view representing avertical central section through a form of apparatus embodying myimprovements for mechanically washing gases.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through, the apparatus in a planeindicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view representing in vertical central section a modifiedform of the apparatus.

I Figure 4 is a view representing a vertical section of theapparatus-shown in Figure 3 in a plane at right angles to thc plane-ofthe section shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view in a plane indicatedby the line 5 5of Figure 3. e

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawingsand morev specifically in Figures 1 and 2 thereof ;-10 indicates avertical cylindrical casing erected l on a hollow masonry or other base11 and enclosed by top and bottom head plates 10a, 10b. Centrallydisposed within this casing is'a vertical shaft 12 mounted on a bottomend thrust bearing 13 and engaged with suitable aligning bearings 14 and15 secured to the top and bottom head plates 10a, 10", respectively.motor 16 on a structural beam 17 at the top of the casing 10 isconnected through gearing in a' casing 18 to drive the vertical shaft12.

' A gas inlet pipe or conduit 19 is connected to the bottom of thecasing and a gas outlet pipe or conduit 20 is connected to the top ofthe casingpreferably at -a point diametrically opposite the inlet pipe19.` intermediate the levels of the two said conduits are providedhorizontal diaphragms onpartition walls 21 attached in any suitablemanner to the casing and dividing the casing vertically into horizontalchambers 22, which, as shown, are of successively diminishing verticaldimensions. As illustratedv there are three such chambers 22, althoughas will be understood, the number may be greater or less than shown asdesired. The several diaphragms or partition walls 21 have centralapertures or openings 23 which `are greater indiameter than the diameterof the shaft '12' and the topmostof which 23a is of less diameter thanthe diameter of those below. On the shaft 12 intermediate the severaldiaphragms 21 are fixed discs 24, each of which is located midwayvertically between the diaphragms 21 above and below it. The severaldiscs 24, as shown, extend in vertical succession to greater distancesfrom the center of the shaft 12,-the topmost approaching closely to thewall of the cylinder orshell 10 and the bottommost being spaced aconsiderable distance' within said cylinder or shell. Radially spaced,vertical disintegrator members 25 are fixed in annular rows on the discs24 and like annularrws of Vdisintegrator members 26 are fixed on thediaphragms 21 in alternate radial arrangement with the disintegratormembers 25.. The said two sets of disintegrator members are relativelyspaced in close relationso that the two sets, namely the movable set 25and the xed uset 26, will operate in relatively movable,

close relation, when the shaft 12 is rotated. The ends of thedisintegrator 'memblrs 26 carried by the diaphragms 21 exten Minto closerelation to the discs 24 and the ends of the disintegrator members 25carried by the rotary discs24 extend into close relation tothediaphragms 21. The several sets of disintegrator members in thechambers 22 are approached more closely' to the wall of the casing orshell 10 in the several chambers in succession vertically,those in thebottom chambern being more remote from said c linder or casing wall andthose in the top chamrber being more nearly approached to said fcylinder or casing wall,

I y A fan 27 is fixed to the shaft 12 above the top diaphragm 21 andshallow, hollow, coni- 'cal deectors 28 are attached to the lower discs24 in the planes of the intermediate diaphragms 21 by means of verticalrods or dislntegrator members 29.

By this construction the gas drawn in at the gas-inlet conduit 19 bymeans of the-fan 27 follows a tortuouspath indicated by. thearrows,-:rst towards the shaft 12; then outwardly above the bottommostdisc 24 towards vthe casing; then 'I back towards the shaft and throughthe lower deflector 28;

thence' outwardly towards the casing below the disc 24 next above thebottom one; then back above said disc towards the shaft and through thenext deflector 28; then outwardly towards the casing below the topmostdisc 24 and then back towards the shaft and up through the opening 23ain the topmost diaphragm and through the fan whence it proceeds throughthe outlet conduit 20.

Water may be introduced into the casing.

through spray discharge pipes 30, 3l, 32 arranged in pairs, one for cachchamber -22, and located so that they will discharge the water in eachchamber in planes respectively above and below. the disc 24 operating inthat chamber. These pipes are arranged at a plurality of points aboutthe casing and as shown, are

` gas is admitted through the conduit 19. If

desired some water may also be admitted through the spray pipes enteringthe lower compartments although the best lwater economy is obtained byadmitting all of the water through the spray pipes directed into thetopmost compartment, since then only the upperv compartment receivesfresh water. The water in the top compartment 22 flows over the bottomdiaphragm 21 thereof towards the deiiector 28 located at the centralaperture therein and said deflector 4by centrifugal force throws itthrough the next lower compartment 22 out towards the casing wall.Thence it falls on the bottomcv diaphragm 21 thereof from which it flowsthrough the central aperture therein to the associated defiector 28,

. from which it is again thrown by centrifugal force towards tle outerwall of the casing.. Thence it falls upon the bottom diaphragm v 21,whence it fiows through its central aperture. into the bottom of thecasing 10` from which it is discharged through a waste pipe 33 connectedto the bottom wall 10b of the casing.

The water and gas thus flow in a staggered or tortuous path in oppositedirections, first as foltowards the shaft and then towards the casingwall.. During this ow theboppositely {iowing' gas and water pass throughand between the relatively oppositely revolving disintegrator membersand 26 by meansv of which the gas andl water are broken'up, thoroughlymixed and scrubbed. This scrubbing process'isl carried on in successivestages, one foreach compartment 22 and by reason ofthel tortuous path ofthe .gas and water moving in opposite directions and the repeatedchanges of direction, propelled as they are centrifugally in oppositeAdirections outward and inward, every part of the gas is repeatedlybrought into contact with the disintegrating elements and with thewater. A most effective means of washing the gas is thus brought about.

It will be noted that in this operation the clean, fresh, cold` watercomes into contact with gas which'hasV been subjected to the washing andcooling actionof water in the lower compartments, while the hot, dirtyas is subjected to the action of water which as been heated in itspassage through the upper compartments. Thus the warmer gas meeting theWarmer water and the coldest gas coming into Contact with the coldestwater, a most efficient heat exchange occurs.

Since the bodyOr column of gas'passing through the casing and theseveral compartments 22 thereof, is gradually cooled during thatpassage, the said several compartments are vpreferably diminishedsuccessively in vertical dimensions, as hereinbefore described, inaccordance with the progressive contraction of the transverse section ofthe gas column, due yto such cooling. For the same reason, the outletconduit is made, as

' shown, of less diameter than the inlet conduit.

Again, when firstfentering the apparatus, as when entering the lowercompartment 22,

the gas contains the heavier particles of dust or other solid matter andonly the lighter particles of such matter remain in the gas as itIproceeds upwardly and passes through the upper compartments 22. Forthis reason the disintegrator members 25 and 26 in the bot- 'tomlcompartment 22l are disposed nearer the shaft 12 while thosein theupper compartments are. at gtr aterand greater .distances fromy the shaf as Ihereinbeif'ore described,

, since the heavier` particles may be thrown out by vcei'itrifugal forceata slower speed' than the "ghter particles which" require a higherspeed.

f1 havefffundy that the ii'npiovedv washer herein described will requireless water per f unit of gasfor cleaningand cooling purposes than thecommonly usedvtypes-ofhorizontalt disintegrator Vand will requireless'vertical height for. the same performance than the well knownvertical washers which use the," centrifugal principle ofwet scrubbing.

- kIn FiguresA 3, 4.a nd 5 inclusive, is shown-aj.,`

mewhat modified form of the ilfive'ntion.'l In case I providea verticalcasing'35 as bethe spaces -at the peripheries of said two setsA ofdisintegrators and the spaces within said disintegrators will providethe several stages ofsuccessive treatment of the gasy and -waterprovided in the first case by the compartmentsl formed by the fixeddiaphragms therein.

' 38 vindicates the lowerset of disintegrator members and 39 indicatesthe upper set. 40

indicates a horizontal'shaft on which the lower `set of disintegratorsis mounted and 41 a shaft on which the upper set is mounted. As shown,the bottom set of disintegrator members 38 comprises a disc 42 carryingnear its periphery radially spaced horizontal disintegrator members 43,43 and a disc member 44 carrying at its periphery horizontally disposedradially spaced disentegrator members 45 which extend between thedisintegrator -members 43 on the other disc 442. The otherl setcomprises a like disc 46 with its disintegrator members 47 and a disc 48with disintegrator ymembers 49 disposed between the disintegratormembers 47. These disintegrator members are so arranged that theoutermost row of the disintegrator members 47 carried by the disc 46 areradially beyond the outermost row ofthe disintegrator members 49 carriedby the disc 48. The outermost row of the disintegrator members 45carried by the disc 44 are radially outside of and beyond the outermostrow of the disintegrator members 43 carried by the disc 42.

The discs of the two disintegrator members are driven in any convenientmanner., As shown, the shaft of a motor 50 on a base 51 is connectedthrough suitable couplings 52 to the disc 42 and 'said shaft isconnected by suitable chains and pulleys 53 to a sleeve 54 connected bya coupling 55 to the 'disc 46.

T hus the discs 42 and 46 rotate in the same direction. A likearrangement on the other side of thecasing 35 is provided byL a motor 56(on a base 50") the shaft of which motor is connected by a coupling 57,.by a chain and` pulle s 58 and coupling 59 respectively vto the-diyscs44 and 48 so as to rbtate them 'in the same direction. The drivingmotors areso arranged 4as to drive the discs 44 and 48 Y inA onedirectionrand the discs 42 and 46 in the opposite' direction. As aresult, the rows of disintegrator members carried respectivef 1y" by the42jand44will be revolved in opposite' directions vasawill alsothedisin-j.

l tegrator members carried by the discs 46 and 48 and the outer row ofdisintegrator members 47 carried by the disc 46 will be revolved in adirection opposite to the outer row of disintegrator members carried bythe disc 44.

Water may be introduced into the system through the shafts 40 and 41,which are hollow and perforated for the purpose; but preferably water isintroduced through the upper shaft 41 only.

In this apparatus the raw, hot gas entering through the conduit 36 meetsthe line spray of water thrown out by the centrifugal action of theoutermost row of disintegrator members carried by the disc 44. Thisspray -of water by centrifugal force is thrown through the body of gasin a direction opposite to that in which the gas is flowing. As the gaspasses upwardly through the oppositely revolving rows of disintegratormembers 43 and 45 in the lower position of the movement of saiddisintegrators, the gas is subjected to a thorough disintegrating actionand then after passing above the shaft 40 is subjected to a seconddisintegrating action at the upper level of operation of Saiddisintegrators. It then passes into the space between the two sets ofdisintegrators where it it subjected to the centrifugal action of the atthe lower zone of operation o water thrown in opposite directions fromthe outermost rows of disintegrators of the two sets of disintegrators.Ittthen passes through and is subjected to the disintegrating action ofthe upper set of disinte ators iirst igsaid disintegrators and then atthe upper zone of operation of said disintegrators.

' terchange of temperature.

Thus in its passage through the casing the gas is subjectedsuccessively, iirst to the centrifugal action of water, then to twotreatments of disintegrator action of the lower set of disintegrators,next to the centrifugal action of the water spray in opposite directionsbetween the two sets of disintegrators and then to two successivedisintegrator actions of the top disintegrator members.

Here again the clean water is applied to scrub the cleaner, cooler gasand the dirty water applied to scrub the hot, raw gas, providing as inthe other case a more eiiicient in- The casing is fitted in this case asbefore at the bottom with a discharge pipe to lead of the dirty water Itwill be noted that in both cases the principle of the disintegratorWasher is employed to thoroughly break up the water into `tine spray andto beat it into and mix it with the gas so as to thoroughly wet the dustor solid particles contained therein and thatm addition andsimultaneously the principle of the centrifugal operating washer isemploye to throw the fine water spray through the gas in order tothoroughly wet the dust and dirt particles and that thiscentrifugal'discharge of the spray through the gas is in a directionopposite to the How of the -gas,-thus effciently and thoroughly washing,cooling and cleaning the gas, with a minimum use of water and in aminimum of space for apparatus employed for the amount of gas treated.

While in describing the invention l have referred to and illustratedmany details of mechanical construction and arrangement of parts, it isto be understood that the invention is in no way limited thereto exceptas may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gas washing apparatus comprising a vertical casing provided with agas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top, a plurality ofrelatively revolving, oppositely moving, disintegrator members arrangedto operate in a plurality of vertically spaced successive stages, meansfor introducing water near the top of the casing, and means forrelatively revolving said disintegrator members, said disintegratormembers being constructed and arranged to provide a tortuous path'forsaid gas and water through said casing and to centifugally dischargesaid water in a direction counter to the flow of gas through saidcasing.

2. A gas washing apparatus comprising a vertical casing provided with agas. inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top, a plurality ofvertically spaced sets of oppositely revolving, horizontally disposed,disintegrator elements, means for revolvably mounting and driving saidsets of disintegrator elements, water near the top of said casing, saidsets of disintegrator elements being arranged and driven so thatproximate elements of the several sets act to centrifugally dischargethe water inv opposite directions.` v

3. A gas washing apparatus comprising a vertical casing provided wlth agas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top., 'a plurality ofvertically spaced sets of opposite- 'ly revolving, horizontallydisposed, disintegrator members, each set comprismg horizontally spaceddiscs and a plurality of horizontally disposed radially spaced annularrows of interacting disintegrator elements carried by the discs,horizontal shafts on which said discs are mounted, means for introducingwater at or near the upper shaft, and means for driving said shafts sothat proximate disintegrator ,elements of the sc veral sets ofdisintegrator members act to dlscharge the water in opposite directlons:

4. A gas washing apparatus comprrsmg a vertically extending casingprovided wlth a gas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the d top, aplurality of sets of disintegrator members located 1n vertically spacedzones between said inlet and outlet, means fors introducing Water into.said casing for contact by" said, members,

and means for causing relative and means for admitting movement betweenseparate sets of said members, whereby the latter may centrifugallydischarge said water towards the bottom oi said casing in a directioncounter to the ow of gas. y o

5. `A gas washing apparatus comprising a4 vertically extending casingprovided with a gas inlet at the bottom and a gas outlet at the top, aplurality of disintegrator members mounted in said casing, said membersbeing arranged in sets located in vertically spaced zones, means forintroducing water into any of said zones andin contact with a4 set ofsaid members, and meansy for causing relative movement between themembers of said set, whereby said members may centrifugally dischargesaid water towards the bottom of said casing in a direction counter tothe flow 4O gas.

,20 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aiiX my4signature this 4th day of Februar A. D. 1927. ED ND VON MALTITZ.

